COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M softball defeated BYU, 4-0, behind a three-hit complete game by Kendall Potts Saturday afternoon at Davis Diamond to improve to 22-13 on the season.
Potts (9-5) fanned three and allowed only three hits to earn the ninth victory of her junior campaign. The Arlington, Texas, native only needed 94 pitches in seven innings to blank the Cougars and record her second shutout of the season.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when Baylee Klingler doubled and crossed home on a throwing error by BYU’s defense for the first run of the afternoon. The Aggies added the last three runs on RBI singles from Haley Lee and Kayla Garcia and a Dani Eldersacrifice fly.
The Aggies outhit the Cougars, 9-3, as Klingler, Payton McBride and Kayla Garcia recorded two apiece.
KEY INNINGS
B6| Baylee Klingler led off with a double to right before Payton McBride was intentionally walked. Klingler scored the first run of the game as Riley Sartain reached base on a throwing error by the Cougars’ defense. Haley Lee delivered a RBI single to right, plating McBride. The Aggies added another run on a Dani Elder sacrifice fly that allowed Sartain to touch home. Kayla Garcia singled down the right field line, scoring Ashlynn Walls, who pinch ran for Lee. A&M 4, BYU 0
Top Offensive Players:
Payton McBride| 2-for-2, R, BB
Baylee Klingler | 2-for-3, 2B, R
Kayla Garcia | 2-or-3, RBI
Pitching Breakdown:
Kendall Potts (9-5) – W, 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 K, BB
WHAT THEY SAID
Head Coach Jo Evans
On the offensive outing today…
“I thought we maybe struggled a little early on, but we came around and hit through the lineup. We had players step up and have a big day for us. I thought Payton McBride and Baylee Klingler were really good at the plate. Our kids really stepped up and got us timely hits there in that sixth inning.”
On Kendall Potts’ performance…
“She looked great. I thought every inning she pitched very well. She got us out of any sort of threat. She really just made great pitches when we needed it. I thought our defense did a good job behind her. I thought every infielder had a nice play today and took care of business out there.”
Junior P Kendall Potts
On her team’s performance this weekend…
“We’ve started to bring things together and it is exciting to see what we’re doing right now. Our biggest issues have been missing a key component, but right now we have all of the pieces together; our defense, offense and pitching.”
Freshman 3B Baylee Klingler
On her team’s offensive performance…
“It’s about initiating the fight in us. Once we get rolling, we are unstoppable, offensively. Today it was about sitting back and talking with the team, deciding we shouldn’t be second guessing ourselves, and that we need to go straight after [the pitcher] by taking aggressive quality swings.”
On what it takes to win games…
“It’s about believing in ourselves that we can beat anyone. We need to believe and have confidence in each other. This whole game is a game of confidence, from making the plays, getting hits and having the pitching. There is nothing we lack physically. It’s about our mental game from here on out.”
ON DECK
The Aggies host Texas Southern in a doubleheader Tuesday at Davis Diamond with the first game scheduled for 4 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED
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Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics